Tom Ellis talks to Metro about the new series of Miranda, his religious upbringing and how he deals with his legions of female fans.

Heart-throb: Miranda star Tom Ellis (Picture: Rex Features)

You’re in ghost series The Secret Of Crickley Hall – have you ever had a supernatural experience?

I’m not interested in paranormal stuff. I watched A Nightmare On Elm Street when I was eight, way before I should have done, and lying in bed that night I heard a blood-curdling scream. I looked out the window and the condensation had formed a ghostly face. I ran into my parents’ room and told them what happened and that I’d seen this particular film that day – which is when they told me about the importance of the film classification system. The sound turned out to be foxes having sex in the garden but it was terrifying at the time.

Your dad’s a minister – what impact has your religious upbringing had on you?

It’s given me a strong moral code, which is useful when making decisions in life. It also means you try to have an understanding of people. I don’t go to church and wouldn’t say I was religious but it’s given me a reference point in my life.

What can people expect from the new series of Miranda?

I saw an episode of series one the other day and it feels like a different show now. It’s really grown. We laughed the entire time during filming. People enjoy the characters and it’s very funny but the audience really like the Miranda and Gary story. We’re exploring the boundaries of what we can do within that relationship in the new series.

What impact has it had on your career?

It’s brought me into people’s consciousnesses at a time in my career when I’m coming into the leading man category. The timing has been wonderful for me. It’s also an opportunity to have fun and not just play the brooding leading man type.

Has it changed the work you’ve been offered?

It hasn’t shoehorned me into comedy, I’ve done a fair amount, but Crickley Hall is at the opposite end of the spectrum – it’s a very dark family story. I’m able to go between those two things. I look up to people like Olivia Colman, who is brilliant at comedy but can break your heart as well. I’ve known her for years and she’s a brilliant actress.

A woman asked to lick your face recently – does this happen a lot?

No, only when alcohol is involved and this happened at a charity night. The recordings of Miranda this year have been ridiculous. One night there was group of teenage girls in the front row wearing Miranda masks and T-shirts. During a break, the warm-up guy called me over because one of them wanted me to sign her T-shirt. As I went over, she started quivering and crying. It was like a Beatles concert. It’s weird.

Have you always had this effect on women?

Never like that. People have seemed to warm to Gary.

What does your wife, Tamzin Outhwaite, make of it all?

We laugh about it. It’s a compliment. If you don’t laugh about it, you’re in danger of turning into a dick.

What are the perks of fame?

We’ve just had a baby and we got sent so much stuff for free we didn’t have to go out and buy anything. That’s nice. It can be a double-sided thing when you want some privacy. But there are worse things that can happen in life than people coming up to you when you’re trying to have a quiet night out.

What was your first professional role?

I played the Beast and the Prince in a pantomime production of Beauty And The Beast in Kirkcaldy. The highs were having an opportunity to get out there and start working having trained as actor, the lows were doing three shows a day including a schools performance in the morning. It was exhausting. I lost a stone and a half. James McAvoy was in it as well, playing a character called Bobby Buckfast.

You’re off to Los Angeles for TV pilot season – what are you hoping to get?

I did a pilot for Fox a couple of years ago and want to go over and give it another go. I’d love to be in a show like Modern Family.

Are you prepared to move to the US? Don’t you have to sign up to these shows for seven years?

Yes, but I did that the first time I went. Only 25 per cent of pilots that are made make it to a series. When it happens it pays off but when it doesn’t it’s still an interesting experience. If it comes off, my family would consider moving out there.

What are your unfulfilled career ambitions?

I’ve only done two plays since I left drama school and would definitely like to do more stage work. I’d love to do a restoration comedy. We did The Beaux Stratagem, not a very well known one, at college, which was great fun. When they’re done well they’re very funny.The Secret Of Crickley Hall starts on Sunday, BBC1 at 9pm.